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Direct booking basics: take bookings on your own
Booking platforms bring guests — and take a fee on every stay, for as long as you list there. Taking bookings directly means a guest finds you, books with you and pays you, with nobody in the middle. Most operators do both: platforms for discovery, direct bookings for repeat guests and referrals. No middleman. Go direct.
The pieces you need
- Your own website with real photos, an honest description, and the rules.
- A calendar that stays in sync with every place you list, so you never double-book. Property management software and channel managers do this.
- A way to take payment securely, with the deposit and balance terms stated.
- A written rental agreement covering house rules, the most guests allowed, and liability.
- Your own insurance, since a platform's protection program won't follow a direct booking. See what insurance covers.
State your terms up front
- The total — nightly rate plus every charge and tax, before the guest commits.
- Your cancellation window — for example, a full refund up to 48 hours, 7 days or 30 days before arrival. Pick one, state it plainly, and honor it.
- Check-in and checkout times and how guests get in.
How guests find you directly
- Invite every happy guest back, and make it easy for them to tell friends.
- Collect guest emails with permission and send a note before your busy season.
- List with ShortTerm.direct and your place shows on the family's guest door, where the guest's inquiry comes straight to you. List your property →
Tools
Many property management systems include a direct booking website and a booking engine; guidebook tools handle the welcome information.
Taxes on direct bookings are usually yours to collect and report — see tax basics.
Find the help
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